National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024--Conference

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, Leader Schumer is blocking us from having an important and timely debate on Biden's unlawful, immoral policy to use tax dollars intended for our national defense to pay for abortions.

The world is imploding because of Biden's failed leadership and weakness, and our country is under greater threat than it has been in years. Meanwhile, the Biden Department of Defense is waging a war on the unborn.

I never back down from a fight, and Democrats' tactics will not deter my work to stop Biden from forcing the Pentagon to provide transportation tourism for abortion with taxpayers' hard-earned money.

As a mom, soon-to-be grandma, and 23-year combat veteran and retired lieutenant colonel of our great U.S. Army, I firmly believe the Pentagon should be focusing on protecting innocent life, not destroying it. That is why I have led the legislation to overturn this abhorrent policy and why I am here today to continue my fight for life.

Congress has been clear for nearly half a century: The Hyde amendment protects taxpayers from being forced to fund abortions, and that includes the Department of Defense.

Senator Schumer should stop obstructing the world's greatest deliberative body from debating this important, longstanding issue.

A ``yes'' vote on this motion would allow me to offer the House- passed, pro-life provisions similar to my own bill. Including these protections in the Defense bill would restore the DoD's mission integrity by preventing any taxpayer funding for Biden's radical abortion tourism, including travel costs.

America is being threatened by adversaries at home and abroad. Why are President Biden and Leader Schumer dividing us with their radical abortion agenda?

This is a moment where we should all stand united in the defense of our Nation. Let's do so today.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote yes to defeat Schumer's gross attempt to silence our voices and those of the unborn. Motion to Table Amendment No. 1373 for the purposes of offering my amendment numbered 1376, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source